Report: Max Gradel desperate for return to English football, Bournemouth lead race

According to the Daily Mirror, Bournemouth are ramping up their interest in signing former Leeds winger Max Gradel - who is desperate to return to England.

The Cherries won promotion to the Premier League by clinching the Champonship title, and have already added to their squad with Adam Federici, Tyrone Mings, Joshua King and Christian Atsu, but manager Eddie Howe is now targeting more arrivals.

Bournemouth have already added speedsters Atsu and King to their ranks, and also have last season's top scorer Callum Wilson in the ranks, giving Howe blistering pace in the final third.

That doesn't appear to be enough for the Bournemouth manager, who is now targeting even more speed out wide in the form of Gradel.

As Bournemouth prepare for their maiden Premier League voyage, opposing teams will have to factor in just how fast the Cherries will be on the counter-attack - even if they don't manage to land Gradel. It's an interesting ploy from Howe, but one which just might work next season.

Olly Dawes

Olly is a Sports Management graduate and aspiring journalist, with most of his work surrounding football or NFL. He has formed two of his own sites, as well as contributing to a number of others before starting with Here Is The City.